The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-12-16


ducts are called protection TO these home
because they render it possible
IoIstnose or our people Wh9 are 5nan9l5eture s
70 make these taxed articles ana sell them Tor
a price eQuai - that demanded for the inn
ported goods that nave paid customs duty. So
y happens that, while comparatively a few use
the imported articles, millions OF our people,
who never use and never saw any OF
the foreign products, purchase and use
things OF the same kind made IN
this country and pay therefor nearly or
quite the same enhanced price which the duty
adds to the imported articles. Those who buy
imports pay the duty charged thereon into the
public treasury, but the great majority OF our
class pay a sum at least approximately equal
20 this duty TO the home manufacturer This
reference TO the operation q our tariH laws Is
not made by way OF instruction. but IN order
that may be constantly reminded of the
manner in which they impose q burden upon
those who consume domestic products as wen
as those who consume imported articles, and
thus create tax upon ali our people
It is not proposed to entirely relieve the cOun-
try Of this taxation. 1t must be extensively
continued as the source OF the Governments in
come; and in a readjustment Of our 1arin the
interests Of American labor engaged in manu-
facture should be carefully considered. as well
as the preservation Of our manufacturers. 1t
may be called protection, or by any other name,
but relief from the hardships and dangers of
our present tariff laws should be devised with
especial precautiOn against imperiling the ex-
istence OF our manuta turing interests But
this existence should not mean a condition
which, without regard TO the public welfare
or a National eEtgency, must al
ways insure the realization OF immense
profits instead OF moderately profitable re-
turns. AS the volume and diversity of our Ma
tional activities increase, new recruits are
added to those who desire a continuation OF the
advantages which they conceive the present
system OF tariff taxation directly affords them.
So stubbOrnly have all efforts to reform the
present condition been resisted by those OF our
fellow-citzens thus engaged, that they can
hardly complain of the suspicion, entertalped 10
a certain extent, that there existed an organ
lied combination all along the line 70 maintain
We are in the midst of centennial celebra-
tons, and with becoming pride were rejoice IN
American skill and ingenuity, American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful natural
advantages and resources developed by
q century Nauonai growth. Yet when an a."
tempt is made to justify a scheme which per
mits a tax to DO laid upon every consumer IN
the land for the benefit Of our manufactures
ou{ta bovODd n easOuable demand for Govern
mental regard. il suits the purposes of advocacy
10 call our manufactures infant industries stiff
needing the highest and greatest degree OF
favor and fostering care that can be Wrung nom
Federal legislation.
It is also said that the increase in the
price OF domestic manufactures resulting
from the present tariff is necessary in order
that higher wages may be paid to our
worlringmen employed in manufactures, than
are paid for what is called the pauper labor of
Europe. All Will acknowledge the force OF the
argument that n government which involves
labor is honorable in the eyes OF every Anneri-
can citizen; and as it lies at the foundation OF
our development and progress, it is entitled
without affectation or hypocrisy, to the ut
most regard. The standard OF our laborers'
other country less favored ana they are en-
titled to their full share Of all our advantage.
BY the last census it is made to appear that
OF the 17,592,o99 OF our population engaged in
all kinds OF industries 1879, 495 are employed in
agriculture, 4074.23s in professional and per
sOnal service, (2,93f,S16 OF whom are domestic
servants and laborers) while 1870 236 are en-
plOyed in trade and transportation, and 8 S37, lie
are classed as employed in manufacturing and
For preset purposes, however, the last num-
Der given should be considerably reduced.
at
conceded that there should be deducted from
those which it includes 315, 143 carpenters and
1Oiners 265 40l rpiliners, dressmalzers and seam
stresses, l72 126 backsmtths l33, 456 tailors and
tailOresses 103. 413 masOns, 1921 butchers, IL.
5OS bakers 2s,Oo3 plasterers, ana ASH engaged
IN manufacturing agricultural implements,
amounting in the aggregate TO 12I4,u23, leav-
ing Z, 623, uS9 persons employed in such manu-
featuring industries as are claimed 20 be oene-
fitted by high tariff To these the appeal is
made TO save their employment and maintain
their wages by resisting a change. There
should be no disposition to answer such sugges-
tions by the allegation that they are in q mi
nority among those who labor, and therefore
should forego an advantage, in the interest OF
low prices for the majority; theiI
compensation, as it may be af
laws, should at all times be scrupulously kept
in view and vet with slight infection they will
not overlook the fact that they are consumers
with the rest; That they, TOO nave their own
wants and those OF their families to supply
| from their earnings, ana that the prices OF the
neceSsartes OF life, as wei as the amount Of
/ their wages, viii regulate the measure Of theil
| welfare and comfort. But the reduction of taxa
tion demanded should he 50 measured as not to
! Ascessitate or justify the loss or employment
| by the wOrSingman nor the lessening
| OF his wages; and the profits still
| remaining 10 the manufacturer, aftel
! s. necessary readjustment, should
| furnish excuse for the sacrifice Of the inter
/ TO work or in the d1minution OF their compensa
| ton. Nor can the worker in manufactures fai
/ to understand that while high tariff is claimed
/ TO be necessary 10 allow the payment OF re
/ munerative wages, 1t certainly results in a very
| large increase in the price of nearly all sorts o
/ manufactures, which. IN almost countless
/ forms, he needs for the use of himself and htl
| family. He receives at the desk Of his employees
! his wages, and perhaps before he reaches hi
/ home is obliged, in purchase for family use o
/ an article which embraces his own labor, to re
| turn in the payment of the increase in pric
| pensation of many days OF toll
| The farmer and the agriculturist, who manu-
/ faCture nothing, but who pay the increases
| price which the tariff imposes upon every agri
cultural implement, upon all he wears and upo
/ all he uses and owns, except the Increase Of HI
| hoclSs and herds ana such things as IN MS nus
| bandry he produces from the soil, is invited {
aid in maintaining the present situation; an
he is told that high duty on imported wool
/ necessary for the benefit OF those who hav
| sheep TO shear, in order that the price Of thei
| wool NAV be increased They, of course, are no
| reminded that the farmer who has no sheep is b
this scheme obliged, in his purchases of cloth
| ing ana wooden goods, TO pay tribute TO hi
| fellow-farmer as well as to the manufacture
/ and merchant; nor is any mention made of tn
fact that the sheep-owners themselves an
I s..
other articles manufactured from the Wool inc
l sell at tariff prices, and thus as consumers mus
return their share Of this increased price to tn
think it may be fairly assumed that a larg
proportion OF the sheep owned 10y the farmer
Hoczs numbering from twenty-five 10 fifty
The duty on the grade OF imported wool whic
| these sheep yield, is ten cents each pound
of the value OF thirty cents or less, an
/ twelve cents If OF the value of more than twelv
! cents. II the liberal estimate OF six pounds o
| be sixty or seventy-twO cents, and this may b
| taken as the utmost enhancement OF its pric
70 the farmer by reason Of this duty. Eightee
u9tiats WotAlO mus represent lte increase ptIC
| OF the wool from twenty-five sheep, and thirt,
J and at present values this addition woui
! amount TO about One-thlrd of its price. IF upO
prohtr the wool leaves his hands charged VII
precisely that sum, winch in all its change
viii adhere 10 It, until II reacht
I the consumer. When manufactured int
! clotn and other goods, and material for its us
its cost is not only increased to the extent
the farmers tariff profit but a further sum Ia
Z | been added for the benefit OF the manufactur,
under the operation Of other tariff laws. In II
I meantime the dav arrives when the farmt
finds It necessary TO purchase wooden goods an
material to clothe himself and family for II
winter. When he faces the tradesman for tn;
purpose he discovers that he is obliged not on
to return in the way of increased prices h
: tariff profit on the wool he sold, and which the
! perhaps lies before hum in manufactured forr
but that he must add considerable SUI
C c1S 70 20, i meet "a iuT ta;T al,
4 l crease IN cost CauseN nN q tttflu Qu
on the manufacture. Thus in the end he
aroused to the fact that he has paid upon
moderate purchase, as result OF the tar
scheme, which, when he sold his wool. SCENE
50 prohtable, an increase in price, more tina
suucient to sweep away all tho tariff profit 7
received upon the wool he produced and sol
When the number OF farmers engaged
wool-rnisinr Is compared with all the farme
in the country, and the small porportion tbs
bear 10 our population is considered: when
is made apparent that. in the case OF a lars
part OF those who own sheep, Il
% beueht OF the present tariff VIC
is fllusory, and, above all, when il mu
be conceded that the increase of the cost
living caused by such tariff. fecomes a burde
upon those with moderate means and the poo
] the employed and unemployed the sick ar
well, and the young and old, and that It cOnsl
/ l,rIne \ Nrh.nh with raIanflnas